Ctg connectivity boost in Dec as 3 mega projects near finish

Three long-delayed mega infrastructure projects in Chattogram are expected to be fully opened to traffic in December, promising to improve connectivity, ease congestion and reduce travel time and costs across the port city and surrounding areas.
The 15.2-kilometre Wasim Akram Elevated Expressway, 8.55km Kalurghat-Chaktai Road-cum-Embankment and a modern junction at the mouth of the Karnaphuli Tunnel have achieved 95%, 93% and 95% progress respectively. 
The projects involve a combined estimated cost of around Tk7,490 crore.
Once operational, the projects are expected to facilitate trade and commerce centred on the country’s premier seaport, improve passenger movement and ease pressure on the city centre and major roads.

Wasim Akram Elevated Expressway
Nearly nine years after construction began, the elevated expressway, the city’s second-most expensive mega communication project, is nearing completion after repeatedly missing deadlines.
The project aims to improve connectivity between Chattogram city and south Chattogram, reduce travel time and costs, and facilitate movement to and from Chattogram Port, Shah Amanat International Airport and the EPZs.
The implementing authority attributed the delays to land acquisition problems, various obstructions to ramp construction and disruptions in fund disbursement during the interim government period.
As a result, the project missed its latest deadline in December last year and was extended until December this year.
According to the latest progress report, the project is 95% complete. The main structure was completed around three years ago but remained underutilised because of the lack of ramps.
Vehicles can currently enter the expressway through Patenga, Nimtala, Bahoddarhat, Sholoshahar Gate No. 2 and Lalkhan Bazar, while exits are available at Patenga, Nimtala and Lalkhan Bazar.
The expressway generated no revenue for more than a year because toll and security systems were not in place. A temporary toll facility was introduced at the Patenga end on 3 January last year.
The government is estimated to be losing around Tk10 lakh in toll revenue a day because of incomplete ramps and limited operations.
The expressway has already cut travel time between the city centre and the airport to around 20 minutes from about one and a half hours.
Project Director and CDA Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman told the Daily Sun that two ramps at Nimtala, one at Fakirhat, two at CEPZ, one at Wasa and one at Tigeroass were almost complete.
“Work on one ramp at Agrabad and another at Karnaphuli EPZ is now under way and is expected to be completed by November,” he said.
“Construction of 10 toll booths at three points will also be completed by then, allowing the expressway to be fully opened to traffic in December,” he added.
Initially estimated at Tk3,250 crore, the project cost was revised in phases to around Tk4,300 crore. The ECNEC approved the four-lane, 16.5-metre-wide project in July 2017.
Around 10,000 vehicles now use the expressway daily, generating Tk6.5 lakh-Tk7 lakh in toll revenue. Once all ramps are opened, traffic is expected to rise to around 20,000 vehicles a day, with projected toll revenue of Tk14 lakh-Tk15 lakh, according to sources.

8.55km Kalurghat-Chaktai Road
The 8.55km road from Kalurghat to Chaktai has reached 93% completion, with work continuing on around 250 metres at both ends.
Installation of 12 sluice gates and associated pump houses at canal mouths has already been completed.
Although the latest deadline expired in June this year, the authority has sought a one-year extension.
Project Director and CDA Executive Engineer Rajib Das said the project had been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and a two-year disruption in fund disbursement that lasted until June 2025.
“Work on some 200 metres in the AK Khan area and 50 metres in Noman College area is now going on. We are working to connect both ends to open to traffic in December,” he said.
The CDA initiated the “Construction of Road-Cum-Embankment on the Bank of River Karnaphuli from Kalurghat Bridge to Chaktai Khal” project in 2017.
The project is intended to improve traffic movement to and from south Chattogram and within the city, while protecting key business areas from chronic waterlogging.
Initially estimated at Tk2,275 crore, its cost was later revised to Tk2,779 crore.
Once completed, the road will connect the Dhaka-Chattogram and Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highways through the City By-pass Loop Road and Quaish Road, helping reduce congestion in the city.
The route will allow vehicles from Kaptai, Rangunia, Raozan and Boalkhali to bypass the city centre while travelling to south Chattogram. Traffic from south Chattogram will also have easier access to the northern parts of the city.

Modern junction at Karnaphuli Tunnel
After several deadline extensions, construction of the modern junction at the mouth of the Karnaphuli Tunnel has reached 95% completion.
The project is designed to maximise the benefits of the three major communication infrastructures and ensure smoother traffic movement between the airport, Patenga and the tunnel.
CDA Engineer Rajib, also the project’s deputy director, said the project deadline would expire in December.
“Work on some four spans at the Patenga and Ring Road ends is now going on in full swing. Other related works have already been completed,” he said.
“Traffic movement through the intersection will be opened in December,” he added.
Despite the completion of the Karnaphuli Tunnel, the 17km Chattogram City Outer Ring Road from Faujdarhat to Patenga and the 15.2km elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga, congestion at the tunnel entrance remained a major concern.
Vehicles using the tunnel, airport road, Old Kathgarr Road, elevated expressway and Outer Ring Road converge at a single point, creating severe bottlenecks, particularly on weekends and holidays when thousands of tourists visit Patenga Sea Beach and nearby recreational areas.
Amid criticism from experts over the traffic management design, the CDA undertook the junction project in 2023 as an extension of the Chattogram City Outer Ring Road Construction Project.
Launched in 2013 with an allocation of Tk856 crore, the Outer Ring Road project has undergone several revisions, taking its total cost to Tk3,324 crore.
The figure includes Tk411 crore for development of the tunnel junction and the CEPZ connecting road.